Ash Chambers had the Ambers comfortable with a brace, but Lucas Weaver was able to bring the game back level with a double of his own. It was an own goal however that decided the game in the end, giving the Ambers a dramatic late winner.

The Ambers almost got off to a flying start with two huge chances in the opening minutes. Chambers thought he got a very early opener only for it to be deemed slightly offside, before he saw another chance immediately after following a keeper error, but his shot was dragged agonisingly wide.

Despite the ball being played from end to end there wasn’t a handful of large chances with Basford seeing their large number of set pieces not seeing results. Chambers remained the danger of the game as he came close with a similar shot dragged barely wide.

Eventually in the 25th minute the Ambers had a deserved breakthrough as Matt Thornhill played Kacy Butterfield through on goal, and with Chambers running down the middle he unselfishly squared it to give the Basford number 11 his deserved goal.

The action slowed down as the half went on with an extended break in the middle that saw Rev James replaced through injury. A minute before the whistle however Chambers almost got a second following a sublime ball from Butterfield, but James Pradic was quick off his line to smother the shot.

Bamber Bridge saw the best chances after the restart, with both Weaver and Baxter misfiring from close range in quick succession. The Ambers however capitalised on the missed chances as Prince Mancinelli rampaged down the wing beating several defenders, before launching an inch perfect cross into the path of Chambers who once again was on hand to slot the ball past Pradic in the 51st minute.

The Ambers began to take control of the game with both McKeal Abdullah and Kane Richards causing plenty of issues for the Bamber Bridge backline, but a key pass couldn’t be found. Eventually it was the visitors’ chance to bite back as Lucas Weaver cut into the box and his shot at the near post was too powerful for Saul Deeney to stop and they pulled one back in the 73rd minute.

Problems started to rise for the Ambers as Brig believed they could find a leveller, and it was Weaver again who found himself behind the backline and fired the ball towards the bottom corner, which Taylor Anderson couldn’t quite clear and it deflected into the net and sent the game back level.

Pushing for a winner, the momentum of the game turned towards the visitors as Brig saw several chances for a third, one of which had much of the fans thinking a penalty had been awarded. As additional time arrived however Kane Richards suddenly broke away towards goal for Basford, and in the 92nd minute he sent a low cross into the box that Will Squires could only deflect into his own net, sending the Avenue into pandemonium as the Ambers had found an unlikely late winner.

MOTM: Kane Richards

ATT: 256

STARTING XI: Saul Deeney, Taylor Anderson, Henri Wilder, Prince Mancinelli, Victor Nirennold (Nelson Aideyan, 90'), Rev James (Josh Barnes, 40’), Kane Richards, Kacy Milan, Tyrell Waite (Tyler Dacres, 90'), Matt Thornhill ©, Ash Chambers (McKeal Abdullah, 59’)

SUBS (not used): Harvey Ridgley

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